La Luz is an American rock band from Seattle, founded in 2012 by Shana Cleveland, Marian Li Pino, Alice Sandahl, and Abbey Blackwell. La Luz has received critical acclaim following the release of four studio albums on Hardly Art: It's Alive, Weirdo Shrine,[1] Floating Features,[2] and the self-titled La Luz.[3]
La Luz | |
|---|---|
 Performing on tour in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Genres | Surf music, doo wop, neo-psychedelia |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Labels | Hardly Art, Burger Records |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
| Website | laluzband |
La Luz is known for their "surf noir" style, with layered vocal harmonies.[4] Their energetic live shows often include Soul Train–inspired dance contests and crowd surfing.[5]
History edit
Shana Cleveland and Marian Li Pino (former members of Seattle band The Curious Mystery) formed La Luz in Seattle, Washington, with Alice Sandahl and bassist Abbey Blackwell after being inspired by surf and rock and roll acts like Link Wray, The Ventures, and Dick Dale, as well as girl groups like The Shirelles.[6][7] The band name comes from the Spanish for "the light".[8] Cleveland has cited Japanese guitar player Takeshi Terauchi as her biggest guitar influence.[9] After releasing an EP titled Damp Face in 2012, La Luz signed with Hardly Art. They released their first full-length album, It's Alive, on Hardly Art in October 2013.
On tour supporting of Montreal, La Luz was involved in a serious automobile accident on November 5, 2013, while traveling from Boise, Idaho, to Seattle, when their tour van slipped on black ice. After crashing into a highway divider, the van was hit by a semi-trailer truck.[10] Band members sustained injuries, and all of the instruments and merchandise were destroyed with the tour van and trailer, forcing them to cancel the remainder of the tour.[11]
In February 2014, bassist Abbey Blackwell left the group,[12] and was replaced by Lena Simon.[13] In August 2015, La Luz released their second album, Weirdo Shrine, again through Hardly Art. Produced by Ty Segall, the album was more live-sounding than previous efforts, and featured heavy fuzz guitar.[14][15][16] Weirdo Shrine received positive reviews in The Guardian, Pitchfork,[17][18] and The New York Times, and the group embarked on an international tour to support its release. They moved from Seattle to Los Angeles later that year.[19][20] In February 2024, Alice Sandahl announced her departure from the band [21] and that she was being replaced by musician and producer Maryam Qudus, who has previously performed under the name Spacemoth.[22]
Band members edit
- Current members
- Shana Cleveland - guitar, lead vocals (2012–present)
- Audrey Johnson - drums, backing vocals (2021–present)
- Maryam Qudus - keyboard, backing vocals (2024–present)
- Lee Johnson - bass, backing vocals (2024–present)
- Former members
- Alice Sandahl - keyboard, backing vocals (2012–2024)
- Lena Simon - bass, backing vocals (2014–2024)
- Marian Li Pino - drums, backing vocals (2012–2019)
- Abbey Blackwell - bass, backing vocals (2012–2014)
Discography edit
Albums edit
- It's Alive (Hardly Art, 2013)
- Weirdo Shrine (Hardly Art, 2015)
- Floating Features (Hardly Art, 2018)
- Live from the Black Hole (live album; self-released, 2021)
- La Luz (Hardly Art, 2021)
- News of the Universe (Sub Pop, 2024)
Singles and EPs edit
- Damp Face EP (Hardly Art, 2012)
- "Call Me in the Day" b/w "Easy Baby" (Water Wing Records, 2013)
- "Brainwash" b/w "TV Dream" (Suicide Squeeze, 2013)
- "I'll Be True" (La Luz) b/w "Misunderstood" (Habibi) (split single; Volcom Entertainment Vinyl Club, 2015)
- "Believe My Eyes" (La Luz) b/w "Don't Want That" (Scully) (split single; from the Less Artists More Condos 7" series, Famous Class, 2015)
- "Clear Night Sky" (La Luz) b/w "Take a Short Breath" (Old Lacy Bed) (split single; 2670records, 2015)
- Live! At Sonic Boom Records 10/15/13 7" ("Pink Slime" b/w "Damp Face") (Analog Ghost Recordings, 2016)
- "Loose Teeth" CD-R single promo (Hardly Art, 2018)
- "Cicada" CD-R single promo (Hardly Art, 2018)
References edit
- ^ Presley, Katie (July 29, 2015). "Review: La Luz, 'Weirdo Shrine'". NPR.
- ^ Kapoor, Vikesh (May 11, 2018). "Pop Review: La Luz: Floating Features'". The Times.
- ^ Pinnock, Tom (October 22, 2021). "Album Review: La Luz - La Luz". Uncut.
- ^ Lobenfeld, Claire (September 16, 2013). "La Luz: "Pink Slime" (Stereogum Premiere)". stereogum.com.
- ^ Douglas, Martin (September 16, 2013). "La Luz Just Wants Us All To Dance And Cry". MTV.com.
- ^ Spicer, Justin (March 8, 2012). "Shana Cleveland Talks The Curious Mystery, Touring, and the Seattle Music Scene". SSGmusic.com.
- ^ Segarra, Brooke (July 30, 2013). "Q&A: La Luz". CMJ.com.
- ^ Deming, Mark. "La Luz Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ Ventura, Leslie (March 17, 2016). "The Weekly Interview: La Luz Frontwoman Shana Cleveland". Las Vegas Weekly.
- ^ Brodsky, Rachel (March 26, 2015). "La Luz Triumph Over Near-Fatal Car Accident on New, Ty Segall-Produced Album". SPIN.
- ^ Savage, Emily (November 6, 2013). "Seattle surf rock band La Luz in severe car accident". San Francisco Bay Guardian Online.
- ^ Abbey Blackwell on Facebook
- ^ La Luz on Facebook
- ^ Reiff, Corbin (August 7, 2015) "La Luz subverts the surf-rock sound on Weirdo Shrine," A.V. Club. Retrieved on May 21, 2016.
- ^ Wing, Jaclyn (October 5, 2015) "LA LUZ on surviving a near-fatal car accident & producing new LP with Ty Segall," Archived 2015-11-17 at the Wayback Machine Performer. Retrieved on May 21, 2016.
- ^ Geslani, Michelle (May 14, 2015) "La Luz announces new Ty Segall-produced album, shares 'You Disappear' - listen," Consequence of Sound. Retrieved on May 21, 2016.
- ^ Jack, Malcolm (20 October 2015) "La Luz review – surf 'n' mirth with a sinister undertow," The Guardian. Retrieved on May 21, 2016.
- ^ Hood, Lindsay (August 3, 2015) "La Luz - Weirdo Shrine," Pitchfork. Retrieved on May 21, 2016.
- ^ La Luz on Facebook
- ^ Gospe, Andrew (December 31, 2015) "Your New Year's Eve in Seattle music: Shabazz Palaces, La Luz and more," The Seattle Times. Retrieved on May 21, 2016.
- ^ La Luz Instagram (9 February 2024)
- ^ Maryam Qudus Website "About"
